Single Mom With Brain Tumor Rekindles Holiday Spirit

MIAMI BEACH, FL — An inflatable snowman was draped over a bush after being touched by cinders outside Ericka Molina's South Beach apartment. Inside, the single mother's artificial Christmas tree, holiday gifts — and just about all of her family's possessions — had been destroyed by an ugly Friday morning fire that created smoke so thick the 39-year-old and her 11-year-old daughter, Alexandra, were thankful to have made it out.

But that wasn't the end of the story for Molina, who has been battling a brain tumor since 2015. Unbeknownst to her, the Miami Beach firefighters who put out the blaze — inside a gated courtyard that is easily missed between an oxygen bar and tobacco store in the 1500 block of busy Washington Avenue — returned with stacks of clothes and toys to help save the family's Christmas.

They were joined by fellow first responders from the Miami Beach Police Department in a spontaneous act of kindness that rekindled the spirit of holiday giving in a tourist-driven economy that is sometimes unfairly presumed to lack small-town values. A GoFundMe page was quickly set up to give the family of three girls and their mother a brighter future.

"Many things happen in the life. Believe me I am very strong," Molina insisted in an interview with Patch hours after the fire swept through her small apartment. Her eldest child, Felany, attends the University of Florida in Gainesville. "God’s given me a second chance and I have to enjoy my life. Only God knows for what reason."

Thankfully, Molina's 17-year-old daughter, Jessy, had already left for Miami Beach Senior High School by the time the blaze erupted between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Molina could feel the heat coming from her bathroom door and the smoke choked her and Alexandra. They couldn't save Alexandra's green and yellow parakeet she named Fifi. She got the bird shortly after doctors discovered her mother's tumor. Having a pet, helped her through her mother's two operations. Ericka Molina may still have to undergo a third surgery in January.

City officials said their first responders spent much of Friday morning dashing from store to store, collecting toys, clothing and groceries through donations to the Miami Beach Firefighter Charity Inc., an organization that was established to help families in need.

"Inspired by the tragedy and season of giving, the city of Miami Beach Fire and Police Department teamed up to put the family in the holiday spirit," explained a city spokeswoman.

Molina was already familiar with adversity following her diagnosis.

Before then, she had been selling clothing for a retail business called Surf Style. She first noticed something wasn't right when she began experiencing headaches, dizziness and weakness along her right side.

"I went to the hospital July 11, a Sunday," she recalled. "Tuesday they did an MRI and they find the tumor. Friday they did the surgery."

Molina acknowledged that it has been difficult to keep up her spirits at times. But the outpouring of support following Friday's fire has turned into an unexpected bright spot.

"They helped me a lot — the community," she explained. "We lost everything but we win many, many things from the people, especially the emotional (support). Now, I have a lot."

Watch as Miami Beach first responders bring back Christmas for the Molina family:

Photo by Paul Scicchitano. Video courtesy Miami Beach Fire Department.